TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25136, 29 January 1943, Page 6

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel

The Winton Trotting Stakes, of £250, will be the most valuable event on the Winton Jockey Club’s card for February 6.

Mr G. J. Barton has purchased from R. B. Berry the three-year-old pacer Lucky Gem, by Lucky Jack from Sea Pearl, and he has gone into H. J. Smith’s stable at Addington

In some of the -events on the Forbury Park card there are so many horses on the front line that the draw for position may be a decisive factor.

Communique, Marco Polo. Lanaco, and Audition, whose names appear on the card for the Forbury Park meeting, are amongst the nominations for, the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting." The Rey de Oro gelding Motto, who is engaged at Forbury Park, beat a good favourite in Night Porter at the Waikouaiti meeting. Motto won in 3min 26 2-ssec. Matchlight, the sire of Shadow Maid’s dam, was got by Four Chimes —Bay Belle, by King Harold—Black Bess, by Mainsail. Four Chimes was got by Abbey Bells— F. 8., by Blackwood Abdallah—Stockings, by Mercury—White Stockings.

Light-harness racing has been a dead sport in Victoria for months, and the fact that the proprietary element is interested has probably contribued to this position. There is no racing or trotting in South Australia, but this decision was made contrary to the weight of public opinion. The Nelson Derby mare Frances Easton won at Wellington in 2min 49 l-ssec and at Ashburton in 3min 15 4-ssec, beating Courtcard (3min 16sec) and Audition, who finished fourth. Frances Easton is on the front in the Electric Handicap on a 3min 34sec mark.

The Gallant Knight—Escapade gelding Tall Timber has been travelling since he raced at Forbury Park in November. He won at Auckland on January 2 in 3min 31sec. Tall Timber is on a 3min 40sec mark in the Southland Handicap. When Cockney beat Danny Malone at Forbury Park in November he waj giving the latter 24 yards. Inf the Southland Handicap the margin is increased to 60 yards. Danny Malone suffered two narrow defeats at the last meeting, Cleeve Hill beating him by a head and Cockney by half a head.

Brackets for the Forbury Park meeting are as follows: —Vauxhall Handicap— Aberbond and Sir Thomas, Lanaco and Audition; Southland Handicap—Danny Malone and Special Bond; Musselburgh Handicap—Aberbond and Sir Thomas, Lanaco and Audition.

The Wellington Trotting Club has received a good list of nominations for the meeting to be held on February 6. A stake of £515 for a 3min 25sec class has attracted 16 nominations, and the minor events have filled with big fields. Apparently there is an abundance of material about for slow-class events.

The fields forming the card for the Forbury Park meeting are composed of horses coming from a very widespread area. With the exception of Ben Travis, Carnarvon and Gleam, all are visitors from various stables in Canterbury, South Canterbury, North Otago, Southland, and various parts of Otago. Several local owners are represented, but their horses

arc not trained on the local tracks. The presence of many visitors should arouse widespread interest, and also contribute towards good racing. Horses are rarely, if ever, sent a considerable journey to race unless they hold a reasonable chance of success. The meeting should, therefore. provide racing of a spectacular and interesting nature.